Electrical switch



p 1956 v R. w. KISHBAUGH ET AL 2,761,923

ELECTRICAL swmca ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 19 56 R. w. KISHBAUGH ET AL 2,761,923

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed April 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INZZENTORS W1947101222412 GOA M2 a. [5m

ATTORN EY Sept. 4, 1956 Filed April 20 1951 R. w. KISHBAUGH ETAL2,761,923

ELECTRICAL SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY United States. PatentELECTRICAL SWITCH Robert W. Kishbaugh and Kenneth 'M. Donaldson, Sidney,NbY. assignors to Bendix Aviation Corporation, 'New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application April 20, 1951, Serial No.1222,138

14 Claims. 01. 200- This invention relates to electrical apparatus andmore particularly to switch means for controlling the flow of electricalenergy through electrical circuits.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel switchmeans adapted for selectively conmeeting a plurality of lightingcircuits or the like to a source of relatively low voltage electricalenergy.

Another object is to provide .novelly constructed switch means adaptedfor use in controlling the lighting circuits for military vehicles orthe like the same being so constructed and arranged guard against humanerror which might result in improper inadvertent operation of thelighting circuits in a manner which would :result in apprising the enemy'of a secret position.-

Still another object is to provide novel electrical switch means whichmay be used to effect control :of a .plurality of circuits in a varietyof combinations.

Afurther object is to provide switch [means which. are novellyconstructed in sncha way as to take :best and most efiicient advantageof a small space.

A still further object .is to provide novel contactmeans and novelmounting means therefor in electrical :apparatus such as a switch.

Still another object is to provide electrical switch means which isvirtually water-tight and therefor adapted :for use on amphibious andmarine vehicles and in locations where the same may be subjected todriving :rain and the like.

The above and .further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detail description when the same isread-in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood however, that the drawings are forth'e purpose .ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like .partsthroughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation zof one trot-m of switch :meansembodying the :invention, the section being taken approximately alongEline 1-1 of Fig. .2;

Fig. 2 is an end view lookingirorn ihe deft toward the light .in Fig. :1along the :line 2-2 and with therrear cover of the casting and partitionremoved;

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the switch means of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are rear side sectionaland front views, respectively,of the contact .carryingpartition, the section of Fig. 5 being takensubstantially \on .line .5I5 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged :rear, :side and front detail views of anovel "form of double ."conta'c t unit comprehended by the invention;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are enlarged rear, =side=and=radial views \of is.single rotor contact or bridge;

Fig. 13 is=an-enlarged sectional detail view of a contact and rotorsupport, the section being taken "on line 13-13 of Fig. 14;

.Fig. 14 -is -a front end view :of the support member o'f Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail side elevation of one of the switch 'ice 2 t rotorswith the contact carrying members which move angularly therewith; I

Fig. 16 is a detail view, partly in section, of one of said contactcarrying members;

Fig. 17 is an end view of the other of said contact carrying members,the view being taken along line 17- 17 of Fig. 15; and,

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram illustrating one manner ofconnecting a plurality of lighting circuits or the like for control bythe switch mechanism of Figs. 1 to 17 inclusive. 7 i p The singleembodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, by way ofexample, is in the .iorm of .a moisture tight switch mechanism adaptedfor use 011 mil itary trucks and the like for controlling the lightingcircuits thereof, the same being novelly constructed to guard againstimproper operations during so-called blackout operation of the vehicle.in the form illustrated, said switch means comprises a housing whichincludes a front section '20, a rear section 21 and a partition 22interposed between said sections. These casing or housing elements aresecured together by means of .a plurality of bolts 23 and suitablegaskets 24 may be interposed between partition '22 and each of thesections 20 and 21 to provide a moisture-tight joint. Rear section 21may be provided with the required cable outlets in the form ofmoisture-tight plug and "socket connector receptacles, two pluralcontact re'cetac'les 2'6 and 27 being shown by 'way of example. Frontsection 20 .rotatably supports three rotor shaftsZS, '29 and .31 whichterminate at the front of the casing in operating handles 28a, 29a and"30a, respectively. A seal '31 is provided around each of said shafts toprevent the entrance of moisture therealong. As will more fully appearhereinafter .ha'n- 'dles 28a and "29a are associated with contactcarrying switch rotors whereas handle 30a is associatedwith loclc ingmeans for one of said rotors.

The novel switch or circuit control means associated with handle 28acomprises a rotor body 32 .of insulating material mounted on the innerend of shaft 28 for limited rotary or angular movement thmewith. A'tthefront or right hand peripheral edge thereof, .as viewed in Fig. 1, rotor.32 is provided with five or other suitable numbers'of'arcuatenctches'33 '(Fig. 2') with which aleaf spring 34, anchored atone end .on the casing section 20, cooperates to yielda'b'ly ,hold therotor in selected position. At the left or rear end of rotor [32 thereis provided a radial extension 35 which is adapted roengage stops '36and 3.7 on casing section 21) to limit the angular movement of therotor.

*Re'leasableflocking means are .also provided for .post tivelypreventing movement of rotor 32 out of selected positions "without firstdeliberately releasing said-locking means. The latter, as shown,comprisesa locking pawl 38 mounted on the inner .end of shaft 3'0 forrotary movement therewith. Said pawl is biased in .a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in "Fig. 2,'b ya coil spring 39, one end thereofbeing connected to the pawl and the other .end 'bingbiasedaga'inst thecasing section 20. The free, hooked end of pawl/38 is adapted to extendintoy'a notch 40 (dotted 'lines in Fig. '2) in the .front edge of "rotor32 to limit the movement of the latter. When pawl "38 is actuated "to'non locking position by handle 30a, rotor 32 may be angular'ly moved tothe full extent permitted-by stop means 35, 3'6, 37. When rotor 32*hasbeenunovedto ap'csitionin-which the pawl 38 will not engage no'tch :40-the free-end of the pawl will ride ont-thersmo'oth periphery of therotor and -will not [therefore impede the movement thereof until thrpawl .Ell'd again idrop's into tthe notch 40.

fNovelicontact or :circuit bridging :mea'ns are mounted in a novelmanner in the rotor 32 for selective engage- Patented Sept. 4,1955 Qment with electrical contact surfaces which are substantially flush withthe front face of partition 22 and connected with terminals at the rearface of the partition. In order to prevent flashovers between contactsof different circuits and yet conserve space the rotor 32 has tworearwardly-extending, eccentrically-disposed projections 41 and 42 forcarrying contact members or brackets for bridging contact surfaces someof which are at difierent levels than others on the face of partition22.

The longer projection 42 carries two pairs of contact brackets 43, 43awhich are shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 and in operating position inFigs. 1 and 2. Each bracket or bridge of a pair comprises a plate-likeportion 44 on one face of which there is mounted a con tact 46 and anintegral raised contact surface 47. Extending from the other face ofplate portion 44 is a leg 48 which preferably has an arcuate endsurface. Brackets 43 and 43a of a pair are of the same constructionexcept that the positions of the parts are reversed so that the same maybe mounted with flat sides thereof in engagement as illustrated in Fig.7. The adjacent legs 48 of a pair of brackets 43, 43a are shaped toslidably fit into an axially extending recess in projection 42 with theflat engaging surfaces of the same extending radially from the axis ofrotation of the rotor and the contacts 47 radially innermost. A coilspring 45 in said recess urges both contact brackets 43, 43a towardpartition 22 with contacts 46 and 47 in sliding engagement therewith andwith contact surfaces thereon. The contact surfaces 47 of all fourbrackets 43, 430 are adapted to yieldably and continuously engage anarcuate bar 49 (Fig. 6) whereas contacts 46 move into selectiveengagement with circularly arranged contacts 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54 asthe angular position of rotor 32 is changed (Figs. 6 and 18). Thisconstruction of the contact bridges insures firm contact by both bridgesof each pair and prevents possible severance of the bridge by burning inthe event of a short circuit.

The shorter projection 41 on rotor 32 carries a single contact bracketor bridge 55 which carries contact 56 and raised contact surface 57 onthe outer face thereof and a leg 58 on the opposite face (Figs. to 12).Leg 58 is slidably received in a recess in rotor extension 41 and urgedoutwardly by a spring (not shown) in the same manner as the pair ofbrackets 43, 43a. Thus contact 56 and contact surface 57 are yieldablyheld against the face of a segmental raised area 59 on partition 22. Theraised contact surface 57 rides on an arcuate segment 60 and contact 56is adapted to be selectively engaged with contacts 61 and 62 uponactuation of rotor 32. It will be noted that the corresponding ends ofarcuate bars 49 and 60 are in the same radial planes but are separatedby being on different levels so that no arcing takes place therebetween.

Electrically associated with the switch means embodying rotor 32 andnovelly mounted in housing 20, 21, 22 are other novelly constructedauxiliary switch means adapted for actuation by shaft 29 and handle 29a.For this purpose, the enlarged inner end of shaft 29 has a flat 63 onone side (Fig. 2) that extends into a correspondingly shaped recess 64in a switch rotor 65 when the elements of the entire structure are inassembled relation. A flange or disk 66 (Fig. 2) is provided on shaft 29for rotation therewith adjacent the inner wall of casing section 20,said disk having a portion at the periphery thereof cut away to formradial stops 67, 67 for engagement with a stop 68 on casing section 20to limit the angular movement of shaft 29 and rotor 65. A plurality ofholes are formed in disk 66 for engagement by a spring pressed ball 69to yieldably hold the rotor and shaft in a plurality of selectedpositions.

Rotor 65 is made of insulating or non-conductive material and has ashaft or spindle portion 70 which extends through and is rotatablyjournalled in partition 22. Rotor shaft 70 is also journalled in asupport 71 mounted on partition 22 within casing member 21 by means of aplurality of legs or extensions 72, three of which are shown. The legs72 fit loosely into recesses in the rear face of partition 22 and areyieldably held therein by novel means in a manner to hereinafter appear.

An electrically conductive contact plate or bridge 73 is mounted onrotor 65, 70 for rotation therewith and has diametrically disposedcontacts 74 and 75 thereon, the former having continuous engagement witharcuate contact 76 and the latter being adapted to selectively engagecontacts 77 and 78 in the front face of partition 22. A circuit may thusbe closed between contacts 76 and 77 or between contacts 76 and 78. Alsomounted on rotor shaft 76 for rotation therewith and engagement with therear face of support 71 is a second electrically conductive contactplate or bridge 79. The latter carries diametrically disposed contactpoints 80 and 81, the first of which engages an arcuate bar 82 and thelatter of which selectively engages contacts 83, 84 and 85 in the rearface of support 71. Contact plate 73 is shown as having a key-way 73acooperating with a lug or key on shaft 70 and contact plate 79 has a key79a which enters a key-way 70a in the shaft so that the shaft and thetwo plates will rotate together.

The parts of the last described auxiliary switch mechanism are yieldablyheld in assembled relation on partition 22 by a coil spring 86surrounding shaft 70 and interposed under compression between contactplate 79 and a washer 87 which is held against removal from the shaft bya snap ring or key 88 that engages annular groove 89 in the shaft.Spring 86 functions to yieldably press contact plates 73 and 79 inopposite directions into operative positions to hold rotor 65, 70 andsupport 71, 72 in assembled positions on partition 22.

The various contacts which are embedded in the front face of partition22 and the rear face of support 71 have terminals which extend throughsaid partition and said support for connection to electrical leads, onlya few of which are shown except in Fig. 18. In view of the simplicity ofthe casing construction and the ease with which the same may beassembled after the different sub-assemblies have been completed, theterminal ends of the stationary contacts may be peened over or rivetedto secure the same in place and the terminal ends of the leads may beelectrically and mechanically secured thereto in the same operation, i.e. by catching the lead terminals between the head or turned overportion of the rivet or terminal and the partition or support, as thecase may be. When so constructed the switch may be disassembled forinspection and repair with utmost facility.

When the specific switch mechanism herein illustrated and described isused for the lighting circuits of a military vehicle, such as a truckpulling a trailer, the circuits may be arranged as shown in Fig. 18wherein the parts are illustrated diagrammatically with both the mainand auxiliary switches in Off position. The outgoing cables fromreceptacle27 may be connected as follows:

M-Service head lamps L-Parking lamps R--Feed to stop lamp switch JFeedto service turn indicator switch H-Service tail lamp, service clearancelamps NBlackout stop lamp CService stop lamp K-Stop lamp switch (deadside) F-Battery D-Blackout driving lamp E-Blackout clearance lamps,blackout trail lamp, feed to blackout turn indicator switch, blackoutmarker lamps B-Panel lamps The outgoing cables from connector receptacle26 may be connected as follows:

C- Bl'acko'ut marker lamps, blackout tail lamps, and

blackout clearance lamps B-Service stop lamp F-Blackout stop lamp IEService tail lamp and service clearance lamps.

As indicated on the face of housing section '20, main s'w-itch handle28a has five selective positions, i. e, Qff (the illustrated position),B. O. (Blackout) Marker, B. 0. Drive, Stop Light and Service Drivepositions. These positions are located by spring 34 and notches 33 onrotor 32. A different set of lighting conditions is obtained in eachmain switch position. Handle 28a may be moved at any time between Ofiand B. O. Marker positions, but in order to move "the same from eitherof these two positions, to either of the other three positions, handle30a must be moved counter-clockwise (Fig. 3) to release the locking'pawl3S. Handle 29a is free at all times to be moved to any of its tourposit-ions determined by the ball 69 and the holes in disk 66, thepositions being indicated by the legends Off, Park, fist-Up and Head.From the illustrated diagram it will be seen that when the main switchhandle 28a is in Off position, all circuits are open irrespective of theposition of the auxiliary switch handle 2%. When the main switch is inB. O. Marker or B. 0. Drive position, the auxiliary switch may beactuated to effect either bright or dim panel lights, the dim lightingof the panel light being eifected through a resistor 90 when handle 29ais in Park or ""lst-Up position. When the main switch is in Stop Lightposition, the auxiliary switch can be moved to effect dim or brightoperation of the panel lights. When the main switch is in 'ServiceDriveposition, the auxiliary switch may be moved to effect the lighting ofthe parking lights plus dim panel lights, or the lighting of the headlights with off, dim, or bright panel lights. There is thusprovided awide variety of lighting conditions controlled by "a very simple andsmall switch mechanism for vehicle operation or parking under serviceand blackout conditions.

There is thus comprehended novel electrical, switch mechanisms which maybe designed and combined to'provide a wide selective control of aplurality of electrical circuits, such as the lighting circuits ofmilitary vehicles that are equipped with different sets of lights foroperation and parking under blackout conditions as well as ordinaryservice conditions. Considering the type and variety of the circuitscontrolled the novel construction provided requires a comparably smallspace and a comparably small number of parts. The simplification of theconstruction of the mechanism provided reduces the probability offailures in operation as well as the manufacturing time and cost andgreatly facilitates the repair and replacement of parts. The mechanismalso embodies novel switch means which in turn includes novel means foreffecting by a movable contact or bridge the selective closing of aplurality of circuits. The novel construction of said contact bridge issuch that two units may be mounted side-by-side to conserve space and insuch manner that one functions relatively independently of the other,thereby insuring that any tilting of one contact bridge will not affectthe proper operation of the other.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, itis to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto or tothe specific use thereof in connection with the lighting circuits of amotor vehicle or the like. For example, the so-called partition 22 neednot be solid since it is not necessary that the same function as apartition. Likewise the positioning and arrangement of the contactswithin the switch mechanism as well as the number and shapes of saidcontacts may be varied for different installations. Although theconnector receptacles 26 and 27 may be of any suitable knownconstruction, water-tightness of the switch mechanism is best assuredand assembly and disassembly of the construction is facilitated if theseconnectors are the type which embody removable rubber-like inserts forremovably supporting the contact pins or sockets which are connected tothe ends of the cables which emerge from the casing. Various changes inaddition to those mentioned above and particularly changes in the designand arrangement of the parts illustrated and in the materials suggestedmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. In apparatus of the class described, a housing comprising a frontsection, a rear section and a contact sup porting panel interposedbetween said sections, a main switch mechanism comprising a first set ofspaced contacts mounted on said panel, a rotor journalled in said frontsection and bridging means carried by said rotor for selectivelyconnecting contacts of said first set, auxiliary switch mechanismcomprising a second set of spaced contacts on said panel, a second rotorjournalled in said panel and a bridging member carried by said secondrotor for selectively connecting contacts of said second set, meansjournalled in said from section for imparting angular movement to saidsecond rotor, and means for elec trically connecting contacts of saidfirst and second sets.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary switchmechanism includes a support mounted on said panel and having a wall inspaced relation to said panel, a third set of spaced contacts on theface of said wall remote from said panel, and another bridging membercarried by said second rotor for selectively connecting contacts of saidthird set.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim .2 comprising unitary resilient meanson said second-named rotor for yieldably urging both said bridgingmembers into operative position.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the .rotonof the main switchhas a recess therein and said bridging means includes a T-shaped bridgeof electrically conductive material comprising a solid leg portionslidably extending into said recess, a plate-like cross piece at theouter endof the leg portion and a raised contact surface at eachendofsaid'cros's piece on the face thereof opposite said leg ,portion,and resilient means in said recess for urging said bridge outwardly.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said bridging membersurrounds and is keyed to said second rotor for rotation therewith andhas radially extending portions with contact surfaces thereon.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a housing comprising a frontsection, a rear section and a contact panel of insulating materialinterposed between said sections, means for securing said sections andpanel in assembled relations, main switch means comprising a first setof spaced contacts on the front face of said panel, terminals for saidcontacts on the rear face of said panel, a first rotor journalled insaid front section and contact bridges carried by the rotor forselectively bridging contacts of said first set, locking meansjournallcd in said front section for controlling the movements of saidfirst rotor, auxiliary switch means comprising a second set of spacedcontacts on the front face of said panel, a support of insulatingmaterial mounted on the rear of said panel and having a third set ofspaced contacts on the rear face thereof, a second rotor journalled insaid panel and said support and contact bridges carried by said rotorfor selectively bridging contacts of said second and third sets, meansjournalled in said front section for actuating said second rotor, andmeans electrically connecting said main and auxiliary switch means tocontrol the fiow of current to said auxiliary switch means by said mainswitch means.

7. In a switch mechanism, a movable block of insulating material havinga recess therein, two T-shaped contact bridges of electricallyconductive material each comprising a solid leg portion extending intosaid recess, a

plate-like crosspiece at the outer end of the leg portion and a raisedcontact surface at each end of said crosspiece on the face thereofopposite said leg portion, said bridges having plane surfaces inengagement with each other, and resilient means in said recess engagingthe leg portions of said bridges for urging the bridges outwardly.

8. In electrical switch mechanism, a member comprising insulatingmaterial having a recess therein, a conductive bridge for engaging andelectrically connecting spaced contacts, said bridge comprising a bodyportion, spaced contacts projecting from one face of said body portionand a supporting leg extending from the other face of said body portion,said leg having a sliding fit in said recess, a coil spring in saidrecess engaging the inner end of said leg for urging said bridge towardsaid contacts, and a second bridge comprising elements the same as saidfirstnamed bridge and mounted in said recess, the engaging sides of saidbridges being plane surfaces.

9. Electrical switch mechanism comprising insulating means includingspaced parallel walls, first and second sets of spaced contacts mountedon the remote faces of said walls, terminals for said contacts on theadjacent faces of said walls, a rotor journalled in and extendingthrough said walls, electrically conductive bridges mounted on androtating with said rotor for bridging pairs of contacts in said firstand second sets, and resilient means interposed between one of saidbridges and said rotor for yieldably urging both of said bridges intooperative contact with said remote faces of the walls and said contacts.

10. Electrical switch mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein the bridgecontacted by said resilient means is axially movable relative to therotor and is urged in one direction by said resilient means while therotor and said other bridge are urged in the opposite direction by saidresilient means.

11. Electrical switch mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein saidbridges comprise hub portions keyed to said rotor and radially extendingcontact carrying arms adapted to engage the contacts of said sets.

12. In electrical switch mechanism, insulating means comprising spacedreadily separable wall portions, spaced contacts in the remote faces ofsaid wall portions, a rotor extending through and journalled in saidwall portions, a first contact bridge mounted on said rotor for rotarymovement therewith and engagement with one of said remote faces, asecond contact bridge mounted on the rotor for rotary movement therewithand axial movement relative thereto and for engagement with the other ofsaid remote faces, and resilient means for holding said walls, rotor andbridges in assembled operative relation.

13. In electrical switch mechanism, supporting means, contacts in remotefaces of said supporting means, a rotor journalled in said supportingmeans and axially slidable relative thereto, a first contact bridgerotatable with said rotor for engagement with one of said remote faces,a second contact bridge rotatable with and axially slidable along saidrotor for engagement with the other of said remote faces, and unitaryresilient means on said rotor for urging said bridges in oppositedirections for yieldable engagement with said faces.

14. In. electrical switch mechanism, a contact panel having spacedelectrical contacts at one face thereof, a contact support having a walland legs engaging said panel at the other face thereof for spacing saidwall and panel, contacts mounted in the face of said wall remote fromsaid one face of the contact panel, a rotor journalletl in said wall andpanel, two contact bridges slidably moun ed on said rotor for rotationtherewith and for slidi engagement with the remote faces of said walls,and res if ient means on the rotor for yieldably axially positioningsaid rotor and bridges.

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